Philadelphia · PA
Nazareth Academy High School: HSPT & admissions
Catholic high school in Philadelphia, PA with an admissions process that explicitly uses the HSPT.
The short answer
- Nazareth Academy High School lists the HSPT for Take the 8th Grade Entrance and Scholarship Exam October 11, 2025 & October 25, 2025 | 7:45 AM The High School Placement Test (HSPT) is a critical tool in the admissions process as we consider candidates for the Class of 2030..
- Admissions events start Attend our Open House We invite you and your family to come to campus to experience a bit of what makes Nazareth so special., which usually means the fall timeline is already moving.
- Beyond the test, Nazareth Academy High School also lists recommendations, interview, visit or event, shadow day, and portfolio.
- Financial aid is a separate step, so families using it should ask for timing early.
Key dates and details
| Application fee | Application Fee*: $50 (non-refundable) The Application Fee is due at the time of application submission. |
| Open house | Attend our Open House We invite you and your family to come to campus to experience a bit of what makes Nazareth so special. |
| Entrance exam (HSPT) | Take the 8th Grade Entrance and Scholarship Exam October 11, 2025 & October 25, 2025 | 7:45 AM The High School Placement Test (HSPT) is a critical tool in the admissions process as we consider candidates for the Class of 2030. |
As listed on the school’s website when we last checked (2026-07-07). Dates change every admissions cycle — confirm with Nazareth Academy High School’s admissions office before planning around them. See how HSPT Prep reviews school information.
Admissions checklist
| HSPT required | Take the 8th Grade Entrance and Scholarship Exam October 11, 2025 & October 25, 2025 | 7:45 AM The High School Placement Test (HSPT) is a critical tool in the admissions process as we consider candidates for the Class of 2030. |
| Application | Application required as part of admissions. |
| Transcript | Marchese's Classroom School Calendar (opens in new window/tab) School Information and Forms Student Resources 2026 Summer Assignments Faculty and Staff Alumnae Alumnae Emblem T-Shirt Alumnae Association Cookbook AlumNA T-Shirt Orders Alumna |
| Recommendations | Recommendations required as part of admissions. |
| Interview | Interview required as part of admissions. |
| Visit or event | Admissions visits or events are part of the process. |
| Financial aid option | Tuition assistance information is available for qualifying families. |
| Shadow day | Whether you’re visiting for a shadow day, cheering at a Nazareth game, or joining us for a special event, you’ll see for yourself what so many students, parents, and Faculty already know: ✨ Nazareth is where you belong. |
| Portfolio | Students applying for the NAHS Class of 2030 are invited to audition for a Music Scholarship. |
Checklist items are based on the school’s admissions pages when we last checked. Verify the current cycle requirements with Nazareth Academy High School’s admissions office.
Accommodations and testing setup at Nazareth Academy High School
If your child has an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need, ask Nazareth Academy High School’s admissions office how HSPT accommodations are approved before registration closes. Start with the HSPT accommodations guide, then confirm whether the school handles extended time, separate room or small group testing, ADHD accommodations, dyslexia accommodations, and documentation through the school or the diocese.
How to prepare for the Nazareth Academy High School entrance exam
Like most Catholic high schools, Nazareth Academy High School uses the HSPT — a five-section, ~300-question exam covering verbal skills, quantitative skills, reading, math, and language (see What is the HSPT?). Three things matter most:
- Start 8–12 weeks before the exam date.Short daily practice builds the speed the HSPT’s pacing demands.
- Practice the unfamiliar question types first. Analogies, number series, and logic items aren’t taught in most middle schools — they’re the fastest points to gain.
- Treat the first sitting as the only sitting. Most schools accept one attempt, and at many schools the score also drives merit scholarships.
Parent guides for families applying to Nazareth Academy High School
HSPT timing: when to start prep
How far ahead to start, based on your test date, school list, and how much prep your child can realistically sustain.
4-week HSPT study plan
A realistic one-month plan for families starting late but still trying to move the score before test day.
HSPT study schedule for busy 8th graders
How to fit HSPT prep around homework, sports, and the real-life schedule most families are actually managing.
How Catholic high schools use HSPT scores
Admissions, placement, scholarships, and why the same percentile can carry different weight at different schools.
What is a good HSPT score?
A cleaner admissions-focused read on what different percentile bands actually mean to a family.
How to help a child with HSPT test anxiety
How parents can lower stress without turning prep into a second source of pressure.
HSPT accommodations for IEP and 504 students
What families should ask for, when to ask, and how documentation usually fits into the process.
Common questions
What entrance exam does Nazareth Academy High School require?
Nazareth Academy High School admits through the High School Placement Test (HSPT), a five-section exam covering verbal skills, quantitative skills, reading, mathematics, and language, taken in the fall or winter of 8th grade.
When is the Nazareth Academy High School entrance exam?
The school's website listed Take the 8th Grade Entrance and Scholarship Exam October 11, 2025 & October 25, 2025 | 7:45 AM The High School Placement Test (HSPT) is a critical tool in the admissions process as we consider candidates for the Class of 2030. when we last checked (2026-07-07). Dates change every admissions cycle, so confirm with the admissions office before planning around them.
How should my child prepare for the Nazareth Academy High School entrance exam?
Start 8–12 weeks before the exam date with short daily practice, and focus first on question types middle schools don't teach — analogies, number series, and logic problems. Most schools accept one sitting, so the first attempt counts.
How do I register for the HSPT at Nazareth Academy High School?
HSPT registration is generally handled through Nazareth Academy High School's admissions process rather than through a national family registration site. Use the school's current checklist and confirm the test location, arrival time, fee, and required identification directly.
How long is the Nazareth Academy High School HSPT?
The standard HSPT has about 298 questions across five sections and usually takes about two and a half hours, not including check-in or breaks. Ask Nazareth Academy High School for its test-day arrival and dismissal window because local administration details can differ.
Can students use a calculator on the HSPT at Nazareth Academy High School?
The standard HSPT mathematics and quantitative sections are designed to be completed without a calculator. Families should still read Nazareth Academy High School's current test-day instructions so the student brings only permitted materials.
Can Nazareth Academy High School share HSPT scores with other Catholic high schools?
Score-sharing rules vary by school and diocese. Ask Nazareth Academy High School whether one sitting can be sent to the other schools on your list, whether additional codes or forms are required, and which school should be selected as the testing site.
Does Nazareth Academy High School offer HSPT accommodations?
Students with an IEP, 504 plan, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or another documented need should contact Nazareth Academy High School before registration closes. Ask what documentation is required and whether extended time, small-group, separate-room, or other arrangements are available.
What else does Nazareth Academy High School require besides the HSPT?
Nazareth Academy High School also lists recommendations, interview, visit or event, shadow day, and portfolio as part of the admissions process. Use the school's checklist early, because these steps often move on the same compressed fall timeline as testing.
Compare other Catholic high schools near Philadelphia
Entrance-exam dates, score-sharing rules, application steps, and scholarship policies can differ even between nearby schools.
Applying to other schools too? See the full Catholic high school application guide and other Philadelphia schools.
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